Portsmouth · London and the South East
Hilsea Electronic Leak Detection
Not sure what state the flat roof membrane is in? You can book electronic leak detection in Hilsea and across Portsmouth.
- Damage from equipment installers
- Leaking laps in the waterproofing
- Leaks showing away from the breach
About our electronic leak detection in Hilsea
ELD suits many waterproofing membranes on flat roofs, on homes, blocks and commercial buildings. It helps trace a leak you already have or check a new membrane before handover. We quote for each roof based on its size and build-up. Testing can be carried out on weekdays, Saturdays or Sundays, depending on the weather. Just ask about your roof. We survey commercial flat roofs, liquid-applied waterproofing and green roofs, and common reasons people get in touch are patched roofs that still leak and gaps at membrane joints.
Around a smaller place like Hilsea, flat roofs usually cover extensions, garages and dormers. They’re small, but a leak over a kitchen extension can do a lot of harm. What it is covered in, and how well it was laid, decides what it needs, from felt and asphalt to EPDM rubber and GRP. Ponding, splits and lifting edges are the signs to look for from a window.
We keep jargon out of it: if work is needed, the report says so clearly, and where it can wait, that’s said too.
- Where
- Hilsea (PO2, PO3, PO6)
- Wider area
- Portsmouth
- Prices
- Quoted for your roof
- Reports
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Telephone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Flat roofs in Hilsea
Hilsea lies within about 1 mile of the sea, so there’s more wind and more salt in the air than further inland. Coastal wind works at the edges of flat roofs, and salt air wears metal trims and fixings. About 4.7 miles east lies Warblington Castle, a reminder of how long the area around Hilsea has been built on. If your home is one of the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof, and any change of roofing material on a listed home needs checking with the council first.
Take a building like Gatcombe Park Primary School: large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly. For landlords with property near Hilsea station, flat roofs on let property tend to be checked only when they fail, which is the costly way round.
Hilsea is about 2 miles north of Portsmouth, in Portsmouth. Anywhere in Hilsea, we can come and survey your property, on a weekday, Saturday or Sunday. We cover towns and villages across Portsmouth, large and small.
Every address in PO2, PO3 and PO6 is within our area for electronic leak detection. We cover properties on Vita Road, Conan Road and Arras Road and the roads around them. Neighbouring places we cover for electronic leak detection include Cosham (1 mile north), North End (1 mile south-west), Tipner (1 mile south-west), Wymering (1 mile north) and Rudmore (1 mile south-west). Further out, we also cover Southsea (3 miles south), Portsea (3 miles south-west) and Portsmouth Point (3 miles south-west).
Landmarks near Hilsea
In Hilsea, that means homes and buildings near Alexandra Park, Trafalgar School and Coach and Horses pub. For rail, the closest station is Hilsea station, roughly 0.5 miles east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include World War I Remembrance Centre (0.8 miles east) and Tricorn Centre (2.1 miles south-west). For a walk, there is Milton Locks and Portsdown Hill.
DIY checks: what’s safe
The one thing to avoid is getting up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery. That part is for a survey.
Inside, the loft is a good place to look, with care. Use a torch and stay on the joists or boards, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
What we do, step by step
We check the roof from outside and, where it is relevant and there is safe access, from inside the roof space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement. All in, the survey typically takes as long as needed for the membrane area and the build-up, and we’ll give you a guide when quoting. In a smaller place like Hilsea, parking is seldom the issue; lanes, gates and long drives are worth mentioning. Low roofs on bungalows can frequently be seen well from ground level, and the loft shows the rest.
- We start with what you know about the roof and the leak.
- The roof is assessed for suitability first.
- The test method is chosen to suit the roof.
- The membrane is tested and breaches are found.
- You get a report with photos of each breach.
How to prepare
- Point out any leaks or damp patches
- Have keys ready for side gates, garages or roof access doors
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
Arrange a survey
If you have photos of the roof, send them over. Take them safely from the ground or a window. To send them or to book, call 07833 053749 or send us an email.
Advice
Common questions in Hilsea
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Hilsea, take more of a battering?
Yes, coastal weather is harder on roofs: there is more wind, and more salt in the air. Exposed details such as ridges, verges, flashings and metal fixings are the ones to watch, and Hilsea is within about 1 mile of the coast.
Is my home in Hilsea listed or in a conservation area?
We can’t confirm that for you, but Historic England’s list and your council can. Both listing and conservation areas can limit changes of roofing material, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Does ELD work under paving or planting?
On some roofs, yes. What sits on the membrane affects the method, so we check the build-up first.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Tell us which days suit you when you book.
Will you go up on the roof?
Not always. Some roofs are too steep or fragile to walk on safely. Safe viewpoints, the loft and a drone where it applies let us see the rest, and the report records anything we couldn’t see.
Will you fly a drone over my roof?
Yes, where it is applicable. We hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID and fly a drone under 250g, and the airspace and weather are checked before every flight.
Do you take photos of the roof?
Yes. Photos are part of every report, so you can see exactly what each finding refers to.
Roof by roof
Liquid-applied waterproofing
Pinholes in a coating can let water through. Where the roof suits it, testing can find them.
Bituminous membranes
ELD is frequently possible on bituminous membranes, depending on what’s below.
When to book a survey in Hilsea
Water travels under flat roof membranes. The stain inside can be far from the hole which makes it hard to find by looking.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Patched roofs that still leak
- New roofs to check before paving or planting
- Stains far from any visible defect
- Failed seams and laps
If you look after a shop, office or commercial unit, for example near Tricorn Centre, a flat roof over a business is out of sight and out of mind until it leaks.
Choosing a roof surveyor
- Their drone registration, if they fly one
- Whether VAT is added on top
- What follow-up you get after the report
- Their report turnaround times
More services for Hilsea
What electronic leak detection does not cover
To be straight with you, a roof survey has limits:
- Carrying out the repair work
- Parts of the roof covered by fixed equipment
- Some conductive membranes
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Hilsea
- Commercial flat roofs
- Roof terraces and balconies
- Single-ply roofs
- Liquid-applied waterproofing
- Green roofs
- Flat roof membranes
What affects the price in Hilsea
When we price a survey, we consider:
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
- Height and safe access
- If the survey needs thermal imaging or a drone
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
What a survey costs comes down to the roof itself: how big it is, how high it is, the number of separate roofs and how it can be reached and seen safely. We quote electronic leak detection for each roof, as the method and time depend on the roof.
Booking your survey
Getting the details right at the start saves time. Please include:
- The address and postcode of the property
- Anything about access we should know
- The reason for the survey, such as buying, a leak or storm damage
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
Booking is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or email us, let us know about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.